Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the first English team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored twelve league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.